BG3500

Quite possibly the best value for a high-quality reel in history! I can not believe that this is a $100 reel. I own Saltigas, Stellas, and many Stradics but wanted some cheaper reels for travel to different countries. The price tag might be cheap, but trust me, these reels are built better than anything under $250 - Yes, they are better than my Stradics. Huge gear, tough threaded handle (just like the Saltigas), Genuine stainless NMB bearings (just like my Stellas), all metal body and rotor, a fantastically smooth drag, a braid-ready spool and roller, and to top it all off, they look awesome. I don't see how they can turn a profit on this reel at this price. I have since added 6 of these reels to my arsenal, retiring 5 Stradics and selling a Certate to replace with these. The BG3500 fishes 300 yards 20# braid perfectly for most inshore fish. The BG2500 fits 300 yards of 15# braid and is my go-to heavy freshwater / light inshore reel. The BG4500 fishes 350 yards of 40# braid and handles school tuna, dorado, sails, and yellowtail with its awesome smooth drag. Daiwa just raised the bar, and shot across the bow of manufactures who still produce garbage reels at this price (are you listening Shimano, Penn, and Quantum). If you are not looking to buy a top tier reel like a Saltiga, Stella, or Van Staal - Just get this. For $100, how could you not be happy?

Smooth as silk !!!

It beats many reels twice it's price. I've purchased reels from multiple companies and my Shimano Stradic 5000 may still be my favorite but my new BG 3000 and BG 3500 definitely give it a run for it's money. The BG's are sturdier but less powerful as far as drag goes. My Stradic pulls 24lbs which is a ton for it's weight and size. The BG 3000 is about the same size as the Stradic 5000. It holds 20 yards more 20 lb braid, drags 15.4 lbs, and it's a hair lighter. Less than an ounce. The BG 3500 is about 2 ounces heavier than my Stradic and has 17.6 lbs of drag power. I own bigger heavier reels for different purposes and when I surf cast on the Southern Ocean shore of Long Island. The Stradic works there too. My 2 little BG's are more for when I fish the bays and Sound on the North shore. Mostly 1/2oz bucktails to 2oz plugs. All 3 are on light 9 ft rods and all pass the fingertip balance test perfectly. People debate the heavy or light reel to rod ratio a lot but I think they often go by what they are use to and can be affected by many factors. YouTube the rod to reel balance test. Mojo Surf rods for example are so light and strong and Stradics are the same so as long as the drag is enough for the fish you want you can often balance a fairly small reel on a long 9' to 10' rod. Light, strong, and able to cast a mile is a pleasure to fish with. When I surf cast bait and heavier plugs I use a Daiwa Emblem Pro size 4500 and up. Or on my 11' rod a Fin-Nor Offshore 5500 reel. That thing is a beast. If you only want to own one rod at least for now that you can do a bit of everything with you may want to go as high as BG 4500. Guys use that size on everything from 7' to 10.6' rods. I'd recommend 3500 to 4000 depending on the size of braid you prefer. 17.6 lbs of drag can handle large stripers and bluefish just fine from my experience.

Seems to work great. I like that I can hear the clutch slipping (drag) clearly. I think it could have used a folding handle for easier storage when using gunnel rod holders. The handle makes the reel stick out too far from gunnels and hinders movement in the boat. In danger of getting kicked and damage. Especially at that price - relatively expensive compared to other similar size reels.

My son is a very big fan as am i if you are looking for a reel thats big but not to big for a 7 year old the 3500 series is perfect.

Reel arrived on time. I am an avid outdoorsman as a content creator I use my equipment a lot and put it to the test. And so far this reel is as smooth as butter. (Expected from Daiwa). Smooth and strong drag system and definitely built sturdy. This 3500 model can handle 40-50" bull reds. Trophy cats and more!

5 year review - I bought this in 2016 when it first came out and been using it heavily... still going strong. I do a lot of bridge fishing and it puts a lot of stress on the gears, however, it’s still held up fine. It’s not butttery smooth as it once was, but it’s not too “geary” either. It wore in a bit during the first year of use and it hasn’t gotten any rougher since. It’s actually holding up better than my more expensive shimanos. If this reel ever goes bad beyond repair, I’ll simply replace it asap. It’s my go-to reel for bridge fishing as it’s tough and has great cranking power. Thing is a beast

Very smooth very durable. I use to fish with nothing but stratics after a long season they would freeze up and had to preform surgery on them and bring them back to life. I have fished 2 seasons with the BG. They still kicking strong with just rinsing them. They are heavier but they are tough and well designed. Outperforms reels twice the cost. Do yourself a favor get one. You won't regret it.